Heed the Trumpet's Call

We are meeting today in Holy Convocation to keep the Feast of Trumpets. Despite the turmoil and the dark times around us, and we think what's gone on since we last met for the Feast of Trumpets over this past year, a lot has happened. But isn't it so comforting to know that despite all the troubles, all the things that go on, that God, His laws and His way of life and light and truth remain the same?

God is the same yesterday, today, and forever, we are told in Hebrews 13.8. And what a great comfort and blessing from God that we meet today. God's holy days are His annual reminder to us of His plan of salvation, not just ours, but for every human being. And the Feast of Trumpets teaches us of the time soon when humanity's Satan-inspired rebellion against God will end, and Jesus Christ will establish the kingdom of God on earth. And when He returns those who bear the engendering seed of His Holy Spirit, the firstfruits will be resurrected as immortal spirit beings. They will be God's sons and daughters, and rule as kings and priests under Christ in the kingdom of God.

Now, the Feast of Trumpets concerns events surrounding that return of Christ with the imagery of the blowing of trumpet. And I absolutely loved our brass ensemble this morning. Thank you, young and older ones of you sharing that beautiful music. So uplifting, so inspiring. If you turn with me, Leviticus chapter 23, Leviticus chapter 23, verse 23 through 25, it reveals how God required that this day be a memorial, a remembering, a blowing of trumpets. We are required of God to remember the meaning of this day, the symbols and other special events He plans for the future and what we should be focused on in remembering. And so we read Leviticus 23, verse 23, Then the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, Speak to the children of Israel, saying, In the seventh month, on the first day of the month, that would be today, you shall have a Sabbath rest, a memorial, a blowing of trumpets, a holy convocation. You shall do no customary work on it, and you shall offer an offering made by fire to the Lord.

And so if you're wondering why we're doing certain things today, perhaps some of you have not been attending with this long or some on webcasts may be watching us stay curious. We do what we do because of what God directs us to do through His Scripture. And so the blowing of trumpets is crucial to this day's meaning.

If you turn with me next to Numbers chapter 10, in Numbers 10, we read that God instructed Moses to make two silver trumpets, and those trumpets were to be used to communicate with the people.

And so in Numbers chapter 10, verse 7 through 10, we find three reasons for blowing the trumpets. Numbers 10, verse 7, And when the assembly is to be gathered together, you shall blow, but not the sound of advance. The sons of Aaron, the priest, shall blow the trumpets, and these shall be to you as an ordinance forever throughout your generations. It's interesting that only the priest were to blow the silver trumpets. Verse 9, When you go to war in your land against the enemy who oppresses you, then you shall sound an alarm with the trumpets, and you will be remembered before the Lord your God, and you will be saved from your enemies. Also in the day of your gladness, in your appointed feast, and at the beginning of your months, you shall blow the trumpets over your burnt offerings and over the sacrifices of your peace offerings, and they shall be a memorial for you before your God. I am the Lord your God. And so again, these instructions are not from man. These instructions are from God. And so the trumpets were to be blown for three reasons, to gather the people together as a sound of alarm, a warning of war, and to express gladness and rejoicing at God's appointed feast. Now, later practice included the sounding of a ram's horn or the shofar on these occasions.

Now, here's what we should understand. There are many things we could draw from this, but here's what I'd like to share with us today. Here's what we should understand. The blowing of trumpets was meant for ears to hear. The blowing of trumpets was meant for ears to hear and for the hearts and minds of the people to act in response. They were not just supposed to stand there and look around. They were supposed to do something. The people needed to react. And today, on the feast of trumpets, we have gathered together, and we are rejoicing before God. And we must hear and act in response to God's warning alarm of the trumpets. The trumpets especially related to the prophecies about the great tribulation in the day of the Lord. And so today, this morning, we will hear about the trumpet blast of God's prophecies. We're going to remember these things. Of God's prophecies telling us to gather to Him, to be warned of impending judgment, to repent, and to rejoice in the promises of salvation. Will we heed His message? Will we heed His message? The title of the sermon is, Heed the Trumpet's Call. Heed the Trumpet's Call.

Now, Scripture foretells of terrible troubles and great suffering to come at the end time upon all people of the earth during the great tribulation. This will be a period of three and a half years. Let's be turning to Joel, the book of Joel, in chapter 2, verses 1-2.

The latter part of this great tribulation includes the day of the Lord. The day of the Lord is the time when God Himself directly and powerfully intervenes to conquer the governments of this world and establish His kingdom on earth.

And so here in Joel chapter 2, verses 1-2, we find the trumpet mentioned. Of course, Zion is also symbolic of the church.

The like of whom has never been, nor will there ever be any such after them, even for many successive generations. And then if we'd also turn to the book of Zephaniah.

I'll try to give us some extra time for our fingers to find our places to these smaller books of the prophets we perhaps don't always turn to, as often anyway. In Zephaniah, I'd like for us to look at the prophetic words and phrasing of Zephaniah chapter 1, verses 14-18. Here we read Zephaniah chapter 1, verse 14.

The great day of the Lord is near, it is near, and hastens quickly. The noise of the day of the Lord is bitter.

There the mighty men shall cry out. And then here in verse 15, if you use your imagination, the way the phrasing and the repetitions of the words here, it almost sounds like a repetitious call of a trumpet. That day is a day of wrath, a day of trouble and distress, a day of devastation and desolation, a day of darkness and gloominess, a day of clouds and thick darkness, a day of trumpet and alarm against the fortified cities and against the high towers. This is the alarm, the trumpet sound. Continuing verse 17, I will bring distress upon men, God says, and they shall walk like blind men. Why? Because they have sinned against the Lord. Their blood shall be poured out like dust and their flesh like refuse. And then neither their silver nor their gold shall be able to deliver them in the day of the Lord's wrath. But the whole land shall be devoured by the fire of his jealousy, for he will make speedy riddance of all those who dwell in the land.

Now, this time of terrible trouble will affect every human being. And this is a part of the alarm of the trumpet set should cause us fear and it should cause us to tremble. This is God.

It will affect every human being on earth and even the people of God. But we must not be fearful. You see, there is also a message of hope in these prophecies for God's people, for God's faithful. God is and will be with us, his faithful people. So I'd also like for us to notice the warning and the hope of a few more scriptures. Let's look at Matthew 24, verse 21 through 22. Matthew 24, verse 21 through 22.

I'll be reading here from Matthew's version of the Olivet Prophecy of Christ. Matthew 24, verse 21 through 22. Jesus spoke these words. He said, Matthew 24, verse 21, for then there will be great tribulation, such has not been since the beginning of the world until this time, nor ever shall be. And unless those days were shortened, no flesh would be saved. But for the elect's sake, those days will be shortened. God is not going to allow humanity to annihilate itself. He will intervene for the elect's sake, for the sake of his church. Let's also turn back to Daniel chapter 12, verse 1. Daniel 12, verse 1.

Many years earlier, Daniel was inspired to write these words about the end time, the Day of the Lord. Daniel 12, verse 1. At that time, Michael shall stand up, the great prince who stands watch over the sons of your people. And there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a nation, even to that time. Similar what Jesus said. And at that time, your people shall be delivered, everyone who is found written in the book. A reference to what we would understand from Revelation is a book of life, again, referring to those who are faithful to God.

And so there is hope amidst the warning, the alarm of the trumpet sound. And we must trust God's promise to deliver his chosen people. And that would include a remnant of physical Israel at that time, as well as his elect, the church. God will intervene to deliver them, and of course, spiritually so. And let's now turn to Revelation 12, verse 6. Revelation 12, verse 6, because even here we do see that God does have something miraculous planned to preserve and safeguard his elect during the Great Tribulation. The Great Tribulation is a three and a half year period, but let's look at Revelation 12, verse 6. And here we find mentioned a woman which represents God's faithful, the church, those who have been called and bear within them God's Holy Spirit. Revelation 12, verse 6, and then the woman fled into the wilderness where she has a place prepared by God that they should feed her there 1,260 days, three and a half years. And skipping down to verse 13 through 17, we see God's miraculous protection of the church, and here it's described in figurative terms. Verse 13, now when the dragon, referring to Satan, now when the dragon saw that he had been cast to the earth, he persecuted the woman who gave birth to the male child, referring to Christ. But the woman was given two wings of a great eagle that she might fly into the wilderness to her place, where she is nourished for a time and times and half a time from the presence of the serpent. Again, equates with three and a half years. In verse 17, and the dragon was enraged with the woman and he went to make war with the rest of her offspring, who kept the commandments of God and have the testimony of Jesus Christ. And so these verses also suggest, and we believe, that God's church will be protected exactly how and where there's been much speculation of that through the decades. It doesn't really say, but we can trust that God will do what he says. We must trust him. In the reference to the dragon that is making war with the rest of her offspring is unclear. It may be that after the church flees in the wilderness, other people will come to repent and worship God. These offspring might be those who repent after hearing the testimony of the two witnesses. The two witnesses will be preaching repentance for three and a half years, and chances are actually preaching three and a half years, right up to three and a half days before Jesus Christ returns at the sounding of the seventh trumpet. You can read more about the two witnesses in Revelation 11, verse 1 through 14. But my point is God will protect those who are his. Some of us, many of us, by then we don't know, may be in the place of safety of the grave. The grave is also a place of safety, but no matter whether we are living or not living, God will take care of us. Now, as we remember the significance of this day, let's turn to Revelation chapter 6. Revelation chapter 6, and we're going to read through the opening of the first six seals of the scroll of judgment. We're going to read how Jesus Christ, the Lamb of God, is described as opening these first six seals of the scroll of judgment.

We will not take time to read the entirety of this, but we will get this sense that God has this planned out, and we will be safe as we trust in him. We should remember, you can mark this down back in Revelation 5, that Jesus Christ received the scroll that reveals the events prophesied to occur, both during the tribulation, including the day of the Lord, he received the scroll from his father. And so these things are set. These things will happen. And also, the six seals parallel the signs that Jesus Christ mentions in the Olivet Prophecy. So let's look here. Revelation 6, verse 1 through 8. In summary fashion, Revelation 6, 1 through 8, they describe the opening of the first four seals and the revealing of the four horsemen of the pop clips. These events, these first four seals, these events will cause suffering and death across the globe via religious deception and war and famine and epidemics. We are already getting a foretaste of what kind of chaos and disruption to everyday life, even this COVID is causing for us right now. It'll be far worse. The fifth seal, verses 9 through 11, describes Satan's end-time persecution in the martyrdom of many of those who remain faithful to God. And then, still in Revelation 6, verses 12 through 17, the sixth seal reveals what will be terrifying, hand-ovenly signs which mark the coming of the day of the Lord, the time of God's wrath upon humanity. And let's read a bit here. Let's look at Revelation 6 and verse 12. Let's read a bit of what will happen at that opening of the sixth seal marking the coming of Jesus Christ, the day of the Lord. The day of the Lord, exactly the time Christ will come later. Verse 12, I looked when he opened the sixth seal, John writes, and behold there was a great earthquake, and the sun became black as saith cloth of hair, and the moon became like blood. The stars of heaven fell to the earth as a fig tree drops its lake figs when it is shaken by a mighty wind. And then the sky receded as they scrolled when it is rolled up, and every mountain and island was moved out of its place. That will be one of the most titanic earthquakes ever.

And the kings of the earth, the great men, the rich men, the commanders, the mighty men. Think of all the mighty people we know about today.

In every slave, though, in every free man, everyone it sounds, hid themselves in the caves, and in the rocks, and the mountains, and said to the mountains and the rocks, fall on us, hide us from the face of him who sits on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb. For the great day of his wrath has come, and who is able to stand?

So from the first seal to the sixth seal, we find summarized here major events and conditions that lead up to the day of the Lord. All these things so far just leading up to the day of the Lord. Let's turn now to Revelation chapter 8. In Revelation chapter 8, in here in verse 1 and 2, the seventh seal is open. The seventh seal is open. Revelation 8 verse 1 through 2, When he the Lamb of God opened the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven for about a half hour.

I wonder what that will be like. The closest thing I can imagine is if you've ever been working outside and suddenly the birds stop singing and the wind seems to stop. Have you ever been in that situation? Maybe there's a terrific storm rolling in.

That's the nearest thing I can make my imagination. There will be silence. There will be silence. Why? Because the event of Christ's day of the Lord coming, this has been waited for since before, the foundation of the earth. When he opened the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven for about half an hour, and I saw the seven angels who stand before God, and to them were given seven trumpets. In verse 6, So the seven angels who had the seven trumpets prepared themselves to sound, to blow the trumpet. Now these trumpets, these angels blow, announce catastrophic punishments from God. These are punishments from God. In verse 7, again we're going to look at this in summary fashion, in verse 7, With the angels blowing of the first trumpet, hail and fire, destroy one third of all of the earth's vegetation. One third. In verse 8, With the second trumpet, something like a burning mountain, perhaps, might this be an asteroid? We don't know. But something like a burning mountain destroys one third of all sea creatures and also of all ships. Think of all these cargo ships. I don't know if you've ever been to a port, sea port, and been near those ships. They are absolutely gigantic. All these ships will be destroyed one third. In verse 10, With the third trumpet, a fallen star called wormwood makes one third of all fresh water bitter and undrinkable.

And in verse 12, With the fourth trumpet, the sun, the moon, and the stars will lose one third of their light. One third of their light is going to go suddenly dim across the planet. Now these are just the beginning of God's wrath. Just beginning.

And we also remember what we're foretold here in the book of Revelation. These are bad, bad enough, but the final three trumpets are so terrible that they are also called woes. W-O-E-S, woes. Now the woes, basically, we could say are the opposite. They're the opposites of blessings, and they express a judgment as God, as well as they mean intense sorrow and pain. It's going to intensify. And so in Revelation chapter 9 now, Revelation 9 verse 1 through 6, with the fifth trumpet, this is the first woe, the fifth trumpet is the first woe, a powerful army appears. Revelation 9 verse 1, let's read a bit here. And then the fifth angel sounded, and I saw a star falling from heaven to the earth. Excuse me, falling from heaven to the earth. To him was given the key to the bottomless pit, and he opened the bottomless pit, and smoke arose out of the pit like the smoke of a great furnace. So the sun and the air were darkened because of the smoke of the pit. And then out of the smoke locusts came upon the earth. Now these are not, these are more than just grasshoppers. This is, there's something more here. This is symbolic. And to them was given power as the scorpions of the earth have power. They were commanded not to harm the grass of the earth or any green thing or any tree, but only, only those men who do not have the seal of God on the foreheads. And they were not given, and they were not given authority to kill them, but to torment them for five months. Now it's interesting here, five months, just a side note, we need to pay attention to that. The reference to five months, that makes very clear that this day of the Lord, which we are now reading about, is not a 20, a literal 24-hour day. It is not a literal 24-hour day. The entirety of the day of the Lord is much longer than that. Five months. Another reference you might jot down is Isaiah, Isaiah 34 verse 8, or it seems to refer to a year, quite possibly, five months to a year, it would seem. And so they were not given authority to kill them, but to torment them for five months. And their torment was like the torment of a scorpion when it strikes a man. In those days men will seek death. They will want to die, but will not find it. They will desire to die, and death will flee from them. Now, if we jump down, skip down to verse 11. Verse 11 here, Revelation 9 reveals that Satan, Satan is the power behind what is actually, it appears to be, a vast army. And they had his king over them, the angel of the bottomless pit, whose name in Hebrew is Abaddon. That word means destruction. But in Greek, he has the name Apollyon, meaning destroyer.

And so God allows these locusts, which appear to be human armies, to torment and not kill. Now, of course, much speculation has gone into what are these. You know, it could be a reference to armies, modern day biochemical warfare, possibly. Maybe we'll have robots doing more of this in time. We're already seeing on the battlefields today drones that look like insects, don't they? They look like dragonflies, some of them. Perhaps it'll be sound weapons. For some reason, people in several American embassies are having problems with their brains. And it's not because of it. I hear the chuckles. It's not because of intelligence. It's because they suspect there's some kind of sound weapon being used on them, something that we are not quite sure what's happening. Even laser beams can be shined in people's eyes to cause great pain and suffering, blinding people. So who knows what these things may be like? But it certainly seems much easier to understand this than perhaps a thousand years ago or more. Let's look at verse 13 through 16.

Still in Revelation 9, verse 13 through 16, with the sixth trumpet, this is the second woe. The sixth trumpet's second woe, here we see an enormous army gathering from the east, the east of the Holy Land. Verse 13, then the six angels sounded, and I heard a voice from the four horns of the golden altar, which is before God, saying to the six angels who had the trumpet, release the four angels who are bound at the great river Euphrates. And so the four angels who had been prepared for the hour and day and month and year, they were released to kill a third of mankind, a third of mankind. Now the number of the army of the horsemen was 200 million. I heard the number of them, John writes. This army is going to kill one-third of the world's population. The world's population, as of September 2021, was estimated, right now, was estimated to be 7.9 billion. I'll let you do the math. Even if it happened today, a population may be greater by then, maybe less, but think a third of that, a third of that. Was there a time before this time when we could have an army of 200 million people? I don't think an army of that size could have existed a thousand years ago, but certainly it can nowadays with a population, even with a population of 7.9 billion. This is about the end time. We certainly would say we seem to be living in the end time. We're getting nearer to the time of this day of the Lord. Then the seventh angel sounds. We turn now to Revelation 11.15. Revelation 11.15. Yes, there's much we're skipping over as we trace these seals. There's much for each of us to study and read about more on our own, but let's turn to Revelation 11.15. Then the seventh angel sounded, and there were loud voices in heaven saying, The kingdoms of this earth have become the kingdoms of our Lord and of his Christ, and he shall reign forever and ever. Do you hear that trumpet? Do you hear it?

And there was loud rejoicing, we are told, in heaven. There will be loud rejoicing in heaven with that sounding of the trumpet. Now, in contrast, let's look at verse 18. Notice how the nations will respond to the seventh trumpet sounding. The nations at this time will be absolutely rebellious, absolutely defiant and unrepentant. They will know who's coming if they want to listen. They will have heard the two witnesses preaching for three and a half years. They will know. They will know, and they will be defiant. Look how they respond to the seventh trumpet. Verse 18, the nations were angry. Your wrath has come in the time of the dead that they should be judged, and that you should reward your servants, the prophets, and the saints, and those who fear your name, small and great, and that you should destroy those who destroy the earth. When we think about it, we see that they are angry because the time of God's wrath and judgment has come upon them. For unrepentant humanity, unrepentant humanity, the seventh trumpet blast will only be a call and alarm to war. But for God's people, it will be the call and reason for great rejoicing. It's amazing how you can hear different things from the same sound.

Many will be gathered for war and will receive God's wrath, but God's faith will be gathered in the resurrection to finally receive salvation. And then, continue on with this thread in Revelation 19. Let's look at Revelation 19, verse 11 through 16. Revelation 19, verse 11 through 16.

What we find here, then, Christ coming. And a titanic war is described which the nations under Satan's influence will hopelessly, great futility, fight Christ at His return. Revelation 19, verse 11. Now I saw heaven open, John writes, and behold a white horse. And he who sat on him was called faithful and true, and in righteousness he judges and makes war. His eyes were like a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns. He had a name written that no one knew except himself. He was clothed with a robe dipped in blood, and his name is called the Word of God.

And the armies in heaven clothed in fine linen, white and clean, followed him on white horses. And now out of his mouth goes a sharp sword, that with it he should strike the nations, and he himself will rule them with a rod of iron. He himself treads the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. And he has on his robe and on his thigh a name written, King of kings and Lord of lords. This is Jesus Christ, our Savior, our God, and our Savior. Now down to verses 19 through 21. 19 through 21. And here we read, remember, the nations are turning against Christ, making war, the seventh trump sounding. We read verse 19, And I saw the beast and the kings of the earth and their armies gathered together, they have gathered together, to make war against him who sat on the horse and against his army. And then the beast was captured, and with him the false prophet who worked signs in his presence, by which he deceived those who received the mark of the beast and those who worshipped his image. These two were cast alive into the lake of fire, burning with brimstone. And the rest were killed with the sword which proceeded from the mouth of him who sat on the horse. And all the birds were filled with their flesh. What a gruesome feast the birds will be having at the end of that battle.

Those who will remain unrepentant, divine of Christ, will be overthrown along with Satan and the demons. And Christ will reign triumphant. He will reign supreme on earth. Now, knowing that this age of misery, this age we're living in right now, this age we're living in right now, this age of misery of sin and death under Satan's sway, it's going to end. And that should give us abundant cause for rejoicing this day. Yes, there's some terrible times to come, but ultimately a time of great joy. God is just. He is merciful. He is faithful. And, moreover, we must not forget that the Feast of Trumpets also anticipates the resurrection of those begotten by God's Holy Spirit. Part of what we've been singing with the accompaniment of the joyful trumpets today, the beautiful special music today about the promise, the special time, when those begotten of God's Holy Spirit will be resurrected and changed from mortal to immortal. With the blast of the seventh trumpet at Christ's return, Christ's return, God's chosen ones will experience that tremendous joy that God has been waiting since before the foundation of the earth to share with us. You know how excited you get when you want to give somebody a present a surprise and you just can't wait? I don't know. Do you suppose our Father and Christ and the angels have that sense of joy in anticipation? I think they might.

Let's look in 1 Thessalonians chapter 4, please. Let's turn to 1 Thessalonians chapter 4, verse 16 through 17. 1 Thessalonians 4, verses 16 through 17. We learn, of course, this is our hope, our promise, our expectation, because God is faithful. In 1 Thessalonians 4, 16 through 17, we learn that whether dead or yet living, God's faithful will be gathered together to Christ at His return. Verse 16, for the Lord Himself will descend from heaven and with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. And then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord. We shall always be with the Lord, not in the air. Not in the air. If you stop reading there and read no other verse in Scripture, you'll think that's where we'll be. No, we will not be in heaven.

We shall reign with Christ as kings and priests on the earth. Hold. Let's turn to Revelation 5. Let's look at that. We may have some here or some listening online that may not understand, but let's remember this. Revelation 5, verse 10. Part of what will be sung in heaven of this new time when Christ returns and His people, those we got in this Holy Spirit. Revelation 5, verse 10. Christ, God has made us kings and priests to our God, and we shall reign on the earth. On the earth. The kingdom of God is on the earth.

And we must, we have to, we must read 1 Corinthians chapter 15. Let's read a bit here. 1 Corinthians 15, verse 51 through 54. 1 Corinthians 15, 54. For here, we find Paul's description of what the resurrection will be like. We remember this often.

I mean, especially remember it today. We find Paul's description of what the resurrection will be like. 1 Corinthians 15, verse 51 through 54. Just a piece here. Paul writes, he's inspired, Behold, I tell you a mystery. Not many people don't understand this. Paul says, We shall not all sleep, meaning we shall not all be dead, we shall not all be in the grave, but we shall all be changed. He says, In a moment in the twinkling of an eye at the last trumpet, for the trumpet will sound and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.

For this corruptible, this flesh, this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. So when this corruptible is put on incorruption and this mortal is put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory, the victory through Jesus Christ, our Savior. And then as we read in Revelation 20, verse 4-6, let's turn back there, Revelation 20, verse 4-6, those resurrected at the blowing of the seventh trumpet, yes indeed, they will reign, they will reign on earth with Christ. Let's read about that. Revelation 20, verse 4-6. John again writes, John writes, And I saw thrones, and they sat on them, and judgment was committed to them.

Revelation 20, verse 4, Then I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded, for the witness to Jesus, and for the word of God. These are some who be persecuted and martyred, who did not turn their backs on Christ, on God. These are who had not worshiped the beast or his image, and had not received the mark on their foreheads or on their hands, and they lived and reigned with Christ for a thousand years. But the rest of the dead did not live again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection, this first group. Blessed and holy is he who has part in the first resurrection.

Over such the second death has no power. But they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and they shall reign with him a thousand years. These are God's words. These are not the words of men. This is not fantasy. This is not science fiction. This is not folklore. This is the word of God. This is truth. So on the Suvista trumpets, we're here gathered listening to God's word. We are rejoicing together for the coming of God's kingdom and salvation.

We have heard—now, I've read it, you've read it with me—we have heard the alarm and warning of the prophesied and terrible events leading up to Christ's return. Now, then, how should we act in response to God's trumpet call? That's part of my purpose today. How should we react in response to God's trumpet call? We've heard it. What shall we do? Broadly speaking, we must remain true to our calling.

We must remain true to our calling, to our lifelong commitment to God. If you'd like a to-do list, here are five things we must be doing. Here are five things we must be doing. If you want to know how do I heed the trumpet's call, here are five things we might be doing. We must be doing. Number one, we need to re-examine our priorities.

This ties in very well with Mr. Lucas's sermonette, very well with his sermonette, inspired by God. Number one, re-examine our priorities. You know our priority. Matthew 6, 33. Almost all of us, I'm sure, know it by heart. But seek first the kingdom of God in his righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. Our focus is on God in his kingdom. The most important things in life this should remind us are not things, but relationships, the most important relationship being with God and with his church, the body of Christ.

We must make and keep God as our priority. When we center our lives, our interest in and around and upon God and his covenant, excuse me, his commandments, his way of life, and his church, life may still seem a little bit crazy at times, but life will make better sense when we stay focused on God.

Ultimately, life will have greater peace and joy and meaning. Secondly, continue in repentance and faith. Continue in repentance and faith. Joel 2, verse 12-13.

Joel 2, verse 12-13. Joel writes, verse 13. Now therefore says the Lord, turn to me with all your heart, with fasting, with weeping, with mourning. This is the process of repentance and seeking forgiveness.

Verse 13, so rend your heart and not your garments. Don't do things superficially. Don't just make a good show of it, but go down deep with your heartfelt repentance and turning to God and crying out to Him. Return to the Lord your God, for He is gracious, He is merciful, He is slow to anger and of great kindness, and He relents from doing harm. He relents from doing harm. Whenever we are weighed down with sin and guilt, we must go to God in repentance.

We must not rest until we've turned to God with heartfelt repentance and prayer. God is most gracious and merciful no matter what you have done, no matter what I have done, no matter how often we slip up and fall. Whether we're not doing what we know we're supposed to be doing and haven't done it yet, we need to repent. We need to turn to God with all our heart and start doing what we know we must be doing and not doubt and not doubt, not be fearful that we're truly repentant, truly seeking forgiveness, that God will not forgive us. He will. He will if we repent. But do not put it off. We may not have tomorrow. 3. Resist the ways of the flesh. We must resist the ways of the flesh. If we want to heed the trumpet's call, we must resist the ways of the flesh. Let's look at Colossians chapter 3, verse 1 through 5.

Powerful scriptures here reminding us of our calling, reminding us of where we're aiming. Colossians 3, verse 1 through 5. If then you are raised with Christ, in reference to baptism, that commitment we make at baptism, if you are raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth, for you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, too, is our life, appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory. We just read about that time. Therefore, right now, right now, put to death your members which are on the earth, fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desire, covetousness, which is idolatry. If we put ourselves before God, we're committing idolatry. Now, our carnal flesh, we know, is easily tempted to sin against God in His law, but we must not give up resisting temptation. I know we're going to fail and give in, but that's why God keeps saying, keep repenting, and I'll keep forgiving.

We're not going to make a game of it, but we keep repenting, and He will keep forgiving. And again, when we're weak, we need to pray to God. Ask Him for the help of His strength and His will, the strength of His faith, because ours is not enough. It is never going to be enough, but His is. We need to ask Him. Ask Him for the strength to repent, and the strength to believe, and to be faithful, and He will answer. Don't doubt it. He will answer.

So we need to continue to fight our sinful desires. We need to knock down our runaway attitudes of pride and anger. God will help us. He'll be quick about it, whether we think quickness or not. But our part is to be quick to seek Him and to do good.

Fourth point, fight the good fight of faith. We need to fight the good fight of faith. First Timothy 6-12. That's where this phrase can be found. First Timothy 6 verse 12.

Paul writes here, Fight the good fight of faith. Lay hold on eternal life, to which you are also called, and have confessed the good confession in the presence of many witnesses. Fight the good fight of faith. We must choose to fight against our own very carnal nature. To do that, again, we need God's help. We need His help, His strength, and the weapons He can give us to fight it. Let's look at 1 Corinthians 9 as well. A few more scriptures on this point. I don't think you will mind. 1 Corinthians 9 verse 24-27. Paul reminds us that we need self-discipline. We need self-discipline.

I think most of us would say that may be our greatest weakness in our struggle against sin, as our lack of self-discipline. We must choose to do what God says with the goal of salvation in mind. 1 Corinthians 9 verse 24-27. Paul writes, Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but one receives the prize? You have to be aiming for the goal line. Run in such a way that you may obtain it. And everyone who competes for the prize is temperate in all things. You have to control yourself. You have to pace yourself. Now they do it to obtain a perishable crown, but we do it for an imperishable crown. We read about that. Therefore, Paul says, I run thus, not with uncertainty. Thus I fight, not as one who beats in the air. You ever see somebody just kind of flail their arms around trying to hit that fly? Sometimes is that how we try to deal with our sin? Just kind of flail our arms around trying to knock it out instead of really focusing down and seriously with God's help intensely trying to push it out of the way? I think that's what he's talking about. I discipline my body and bring it into subjection lest when I have preached to others Paul said, I myself should become disqualified. And so we must never let our guard down spiritually. We have to stay close to God and he will help us. And that takes us to a final point. Number five, endure to the end, brethren. We have to endure to the end. Let's again back to 2 Timothy. 2 Timothy this time. 2 Timothy chapter 4 verse 7 through 8. 2 Timothy 4, 7 through 8.

No matter how old we are, some of us are getting up there in years.

I'm thinking of myself. No matter how old you are or think you are or feel you are, and no matter how young you are, or maybe you think you're too young that you don't need to worry right now about obeying God. Maybe you think, well, I'm not baptized yet, so I don't have to make a big commitment. God will understand.

No matter how old or how young we are, we must choose God in His way of life. He's called us to that. If we're called to it, He would love for us to accept His calling, and then once we've accepted His calling, He expects us to endure with His help. That means we must tough it out sometimes. Life can really knock us about sometimes, and we have recent experiences with that, a lot of us right now. But we must tough it out with life, with faith in God, and with the help of His Spirit. We have to keep at it until this mortal life is done. You see, in the end, it's not how we begin the race, it's how we end it, part of what Paul was talking about. Let's look. 2 Timothy 4, verse 7. Paul had confidence in God. He had faith. He said, I have fought the good fight. I have finished the race. I have kept the faith. That's what the good fight in finishing the race means. It means keeping the faith. You and I, we must keep the faith of God. Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will give to me on that day, you know what day that is now? The day the trumpet, the seventh trump. And not to me only, here's our part, but also to all who have loved His appearing. We need to love the appearing of Christ. We need to look forward to that. We must fight the good fight and end the race with that joyous sound of the seventh trumpet in our hearts and our minds and our ears.

And so today we have gathered, as I said, we have gathered together as God commands, and we were rejoicing for Him on the Feast of Trumpets, and we have heard the trumpets of warning and alarm through his sobering prophecies, his exciting exhortations and promises. We must do our part to believe and do what our Heavenly Father says, no matter what comes our way. God will be with us. He will be helping us to be prepared to receive that promise, glorious return that will finally arrive at the seventh trumpet when Jesus Christ returns. Will we heed the trumpets call?